Fluid means for polyphase operation of single phase reclosers



Ap 1962 w. J. WEINFURT FLUID MEANS FOR POLYPHASE OPERATION OF SINGLE PHASE RECLOSERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20. 1959 INVENTOR. W LL\ AM J.WElNFURT FIIGLZ.

wflzdf ATTORNEY April 1962 w. J. \YNEINFURT 3,030,467-

' FLUID MEANS FOR POLYPI-IASE OPERATION OF SINGLE PHASE RECLOSERS Filed Oct. 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Wmupm J.WE.INFURT ATTORNEY United States Patent FLUID MEANS FOR POLYPHASE OPERATION 0F SINGLE PHASE RECLOSERS William J. Weinfurt, Elm Grove, Wis., assignor to Mc- Graw-Edison Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 847,611 Claims. (Cl. ZOO-81.4)

This invention relates to fluid means for polyphase operation of single phase reclosers.

In greater detail the invention relates to fluid means for polyphase lockout operation of single phase reclosers.

Various attempts have been made to mechanically interconnect single phase reclosers whereby when any one of these single phase reclosers operates on overload, it will cause, through mechanical means, operation of all the reclosers. These attempts have not proven wholly satisfactory due to inertia of the mechanical interconnecting means and due also to the fact that the mechanical connecting means is difiicult to protect from the Weather, is subject to corrosion, binding, and various other interferences which prevent their smooth and reliable operation.

This invention is designed to overcome all of the above objections and the primary object of this invention is to provide fluid means for causing substantially simultaneous polyphase operation of a plurality of single phase reclosers or, ingreater detail, the main object of this invention is to provide for polyphase lockout operation of single phase reclosers by fluid means so that when any one of the reclosers operates on overload through to lockout, all of the reclosers will substantially simultaneously lockout through the action of the fluid operated means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a plurality of single phase reclosers with fluid operated lockout means so that though one of the reclosers is operated in the usual manner as explained hereinafter through mechanical cumulative means or other cumulative means, all of the reclosers will operate to lockout substantially simultaneously by an extremely simple fluid operated means, which is very easy to install, and which is not subject to faulty operation due to binding or any other causes to which mechanical interconnecting means is subjec't, but which has no moving part external to the individual circuit interrupter so that there is no danger of faulty operation or unreliable operation due to binding, corrosion, or interference due to snow, ice, or sleet.

In still further detail, objects of this invention are to provide fluid operated lockout means for each single phase recloser which requires very minor changes in the internal mechanism of the single phase reclosers, and in which no interference whatsoever occurs in the normal final lockout operation of any of the repeating circuit interrupters.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of three single phase circuit interrupters connected for three phase operation.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary detail showing a part of the interior of a single phase interrupter.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the upper portion of an interrupter with the switch closed.

FIGURE 4 is a figure like FIGURE 3 but showing the switch in open lockout position due to overload on that particular interrupter.

FIGURE 5 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 3 showing the condition of either one of the other two interrupters which were not overloaded an instant after the overload has occurred on the first interrupter and before the switches of the unloaded interrupter have moved.

It is to be understood that in the views showing sections of the alteration, as in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, no attempt has been made to show anything more of the original interrupter than the latching portion which has been changed and the release cylinders and poppet valves.

It is to be understood that this invention is applicable to any polyphase arrangement, whether two phase, three phase, or other arrangement.

Referring to the drawings it Will be seen that three single phase circuit interrupters indicated at 10 are connected by pipes through a common manifold or pipe 11 with branch pipes 12 and 13 leading therefrom and connected to each of the single phase circuit interrupters as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

Referring to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, it will be seen that the switch of the interrupters is indicated generally at 14 and consists of a pair of stationary contacts 15 and a pair of movable contacts 16 connected by a bridging conductor 17. The switch is controlled by means of a transverse lever 18 pivoted as indicated at 19 and spring urged towards open position by means of the spring 20. The switch is normally held latched by the latch 21 which is provided with a pair of integral arms 22 and 23. The arm 22 is operated by means of the lockout rod 24 which rod corresponds identically with the lookout rod 99 of the United States Patent No. 2,734,961, of February 14, 1956, for Circuit Interrupter, issued to Wm. R. Harry and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

This lockout rod is arranged to engage the arm 22 of the latch 21 and release the latch 21 from restraining position for the lever 18 so that the lever is suddenly pressed downwardly and thus opens the switch.

Each circuit interrupter is provided with a casing or housing 25 and is filled with oil or other suitable liquid to approximately the level 26.

The pipe 13 leads to a poppet valve indicated by the reference character 27. This poppet valve is biased closed and normally remains closed. It is opened, when the switch opens by means of the extension finger 28 of the lever 18.

The arm 23 is arranged to be engaged by the piston rod 29 extending inwardly from the piston 30 for the interrupters which are not overloaded. The cylinder for the piston 30 is numbered 31 and is in communication with the common manifold or pipe 11, as shown in FIGURE 1, by means of the pipe 12.

When one of the single phase circuit interrupters opens, it is apparent that its poppet valve 27 is opened by means of the rearward extension 28 of the lever 18, see FIG- URE 4.

Gas pressure is built up, due to the overload which is of an explosive nature as is well known, and pressure gases now pass the poppet valve 27 and into the manifold 11.

This will be seen from an examination of FIGURE 4 showing an overloaded interrupter. When the lockout rod 24 of such overloaded single phase interrupter moves upwardly, it will release the lever 18 and thus open the switch. The gas pressure built up due to the interruption of the current in the overloaded circuit interrupter is transmitted to the manifold 11 past the poppet valve 27 which has been opened by the finger 28 of the lever 18.

The pressure gas from the manifold 11 passes through the pipes 12 of the nonoverloaded circuit interrupters and exerts pressure on the right hand side of their pistons 30 and forces them and their piston rods 29 to the left as shown in FIGURE 5. This releases the latches 21 of the two nonoverloaded interrupters and allows these interrupters to suddenly open. This opening of the two unloaded circuit interrupters occurs almost simultaneously with the opening of the overloaded circuit interrupter. The position of the parts just an instant after release of the levers 18 of the unloaded interrupters and before the switches of the unloaded interrupters have had an opportunity to open is shown in FIGURE 5. The pressure is not allowed to build up in the casings of the two unloaded Patented Apr. 17, 1962 i interrupters-due to the-fact that their poppet valves 27 are closed and therefore the pressure on the pistons 30 is on the right hand side for an instant after pressure builds up in the manifold 11. Thereafter the two nonoverloaded circuit interrupters. are opened and thus three phase ,operation of the lockout means, isobtained,

It is. to be distinctly understood that FIGURE is not apermanent position of the partsrbut is an instantaneous position as described hereinabove.

It will be seen that a very simple fluid means is employed for opening all of the circuit interrupters simuh taneously due to overload on any oneof the single phase circuit interrupters. This arrangement is very much simpler than any mechanical connection that could be made and is not an expensive change to make. The changes required internally, of the single phase circuit interrupters has been described hereinabove and it will be seen that very few changes are required.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood thatsuch description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention is to be limited only as, claimed.

I claim:

1. The combination of a plurality of repeating single phase circuit interrupters; each of said interrupters having cumulative, lockout means, a, separate casing, and fluid lockout means for each circuit interrupter; a common manifold for the fluid lockout means of the interrupters; meansfor connecting the common manifold to the casing of an overloaded circuit, interrupten whereby the operation ofthe fluid lockout means of an. overloaded circuit interrupter .willcause operationrof the fluid lockout means,

actiongofthe. indiyidualfluid lockout means, of each indi vidual circuit interrupter.

.2. Thecombination of a, plurality of repeating; single phase circuit interrupters; a common fluid manifold for said-interrupters; a switchbiasedclosed, restraining means restraining the opening of said switch, cumulative lockout means for releasing said restraining means, pressure responsive means for releasing the restraining. means, means connecting-the pressureresponsive means to the manifold, a casing for said switch, normally closed means connecting the casing with the manifold, and means for opening'the said normally closed means on overload, for each interrupter; whereby pressure fluid due, to operation of an overloaded interrupter is transmitted to the pressure responsive means of the othernonoverloaded interrupters and simultaneous action is secured solely through the action of'the individual fluid lockout means of each indi-' vidual interrupter.

3. The combination of a plurality of repeating single phase circuit interrupters each provided with mechanical cumulative means for locking the circuit interrupter out after a plurality of successive operations, and fluid lockout means; eachof said circuit interrupters includinga casing and lockout means operated from thecumulative means; a commonrmanifold'for the fluid lockout means of the interrupters; each of the circuit interrupters having trip means forming apart of the cumulative lockout means; and fluid pressure means for operating the lockout means through the action of the fluid lockout means; and interconnecting pipes joining the common manifold with the fluid operated lockout means and the casing-of,

each of circuit interrupters; whereby the fluid operated lockout means will not interfere with the individuallocb out means of the interrupters.

4. The combination of a plurality of repeating single.

phase circuit interrupters each having cumulative lockout,

means and pressure operated lockout means, and a casing;

a common fluid manifold for the circuitinterrupters; pipes leading from the common manifold to the casing of the several circuit interrupters and additional pipes leading,

from the common manifold to the pressure operated lock,- out means; communication with the casing being con trolledandrvalve means for controlling the. connection of said, common manifold to thecasing of eachindividual singlephase circuit interrupter.

5. The combination of a pluralityof repeating single, phase circuit interrupters; each of said interrupters having cumulative mechanical means and fluid responsiyemeans p grthe l kou mean. an 1 as g; acommon:

manifold connecting the-fluid operated responsive means and the casing of each of'the single phasecircuit interrupters; a valve controlling the communicationof the common manifold andthe casing for each interrupter; and means operated from the mechanical means for operating one of the valves to permit communication with the casing of an overloaded single phase interrupter withthe common manifold, and'to prevent such communication of a nonoverloaded single phase interrupter.

References Cited in the file of this-patent- UNITEDSTATES PATENTS;

1,226,114 Randall; May,15';'191 7" 2,249,006 Kesselring July 15; 1941. 73,256 Forwald. -.--.----.t-,.- 0.6L. 3 5. 951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,030,467 April 17, 1962 William J. Weinfurt It is hereby certified that error appears in the above ent requiring correcti numbered paton and that the said Letters Patent sh corrected below.

ould read as Column 4, line l6 after "of" said line 33, for

and before "circuit" "mean" rea insert d means Signed and sealed this 18th day of September 1962.

SEAL) A ttest:

Commissioner of Patents 

